Tuesday, 8 November 2016

This concept book for kids is all about unleashing creativity, thinking
outside the square and opening the mind to possibility! Part picture
book, part artistic inspiration, What Could It Be? is an
interactive adventure for pre-primary and primary school-aged children
organised into paired double-page spreads. The first spread in each pair
introduces a basic geometric shape (square, circle, triangle, etc.) and
then opens the door for creative thinking by posing the question, ‘What
else could it be?’ The following spread provides the answer, with the
focus shape transformed into many objects in a glorious artwork. These
pages provide a further interactive element as kids are encouraged to
find specific objects and count the ‘hidden’ shapes. The reader is
guided through the pages by the character of a young boy, who allows
many aspects of his world to be ‘discovered’ via the detailed
illustrations. The last page challenges kids to create their own
illustrations inspired by a geometric shape.

Nayu's thoughts

Please note, I wrote my thoughts before reading the book summary: I've left the explanation of each page in my review because I do include a bit extra than the publisher's summary. Each shape is
introduced in the same way. First there is a double page with
the shape named in a sentence, then on it's own in grey capital
letters, with Max drawing the shape on the wall, then there's an
example before a double page filled with lots of that shape.
Readers are asked to find particular colours of the shape on the
page, and there are plenty more than those asked for. I like how
these pictures use settings around the home which readers will
recognise, and I can see readers naming all the shapes where they are
reading the book.

The highlight of the book was spotting Max's
grandmother making a granny square blanket! Although crochet is for
all ages... The other reason this doesn't get top marks is because
Max draws shapes on the wall, which may have a tiny chance of
encouraging readers to do the same, since it isn't in chalk or on an
outside wall. Plus there isn't an answer page saying how many shapes
on on the pages which asks the reader to find them. I like to know
answers! Overall it is a bright and colourful creative read that
encourages looking at our surroundings to see what shapes there are.

Hi, I'm Nayu!

About me

About me I'm a UK book reviewer who founded NRC in 2009. As well as books I'm addicted to anime, love gaming, and spend time coaxing novels out of my Muse. I'm at the early stage of the path to publication, and will release all news when I have it! ^o^ Sometimes there will be days without posts because I have to deal with chronic illness and chronic pain gremlins. Please be patient in the down times.

Thanks to my passion for languages I like to rest up watching anime in English, French, and Japanese. I also adore gaming and cross stitch. My crochet hobby has evolved in to my Etsy store and blog Nayu's Crochet Dreams, where I sell handmade blankets, dishcloths and other crochet goods.

My cat Belle loves curling on my lap when I read, although she gets a bit crabby when I crochet because she doesn't like the yarn draping over her. Needless to say she doesn't get a say in the matter!

I hope you enjoy Nayu's Reading Corner, which has lots to offer whatever you're interested in.

short 'n' sweet= a shorter than normal review for when I'm low on energy/ill. Full reason is in this post. It bears no reflection on the book's brilliance. I truly would write more if I could.

Apart from books, which are copyright to the publisher, and pictures which I say are mine, all other pictures are found online through a Google search. I don't own the right to any of them.

Affiliates:I'm in the slow process of removing affiliate links. All affilate links will be marked as such, and if you choose to buy a book through an affiliate I get a tiny smidge of money. None of my opinions change because I'm using affiliates.

Nayu, 13th March 2017

Disclaimer

I am fortunate that most of the books I currently review are received from authors and publishers.

At the beginning of each review I put either Review copy (received from authors/publishers), Personal Copy (purchased by myself) or Library Copy (borrowed from the library).

Wherever the book comes from, I always write an honest review, explaining what I do like, as well as what I don't. I don't receive any payment for these reviews.